A Change Of Heart

Toni ATkinson married for love, but it came with a side of fame that was difficult to navigate. When her star-studded world caved in around her, she had to rebuild herself, and in the process discovered the ultimate luxury is happiness

I’m pulling off mud-encrusted, hay-filled gumboots, getting ready to cook a meal of salmon, baked potatoes and boiled greens that have been freshly pulled from the ground. My partner, Fanis, is preparing a roaring fire. It’s winter in Mykonos and we’ve spent the day repairing fences and cleaning up a field for his 17 horses to rest up during the cold season. I’ve never felt more at peace than I do right now, but that’s taking some getting used to.

In another life, I was married to the world motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner. We spent 20 years together, dividing our time between Monte Carlo and Sydney, travelling the world, renovating our farmhouse near Berry in southern New South Wales and our dream home overlooking Fairy Bower in Manly. We attended star studded events and socialised with celebrities. We had two beautiful sons. I was in love. Basically, we were living the dream.

The day I met Wayne, he asked me a question that possibly helped shape who I would become over the next two decades. I often wonder how one question could have so much influence over a person, but, as women, we tend to over analyse things men forget once they have an answer. “If you could choose one thing, money or love, what would it be?” At the time it seemed innocuous, but I later realised he was trying to establish whether I was interested in him only for his fame. I chose love. And I never forgot that question.